Matt Trowbridge: Bears' draft pales in comparison to Vikings, Packers

Monday

Apr 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMApr 28, 2008 at 11:58 AM

Upgrading at three positions, including its two greatest needs, would have been fantastic for a team coming off its first Super Bowl in 21 years. It’s not enough for an aging 7-9 team that finished third in the NFC North.

Matt Trowbridge

A new left tackle and running back. Maybe a new receiver. Not bad. Not bad at all.

But Jerry Angelo’s 2008 draft class is one year too late for “not bad” to count as good.

Upgrading at three positions, including its two greatest needs, would have been fantastic for a team coming off its first Super Bowl in 21 years. It’s not enough for an aging 7-9 team that finished third in the NFC North.

Not when this draft was uniquely suited to cure Chicago’s ills. And not when the Bears’ two main rivals aggressively filled their needs.

Angelo correctly stated that the Bears’ No. 1 need was offensive line, specifically left tackle. He also agreed with the consensus opinion that this was probably the deepest offensive line draft ever.

But he didn’t act like it.

Taking Chris Williams No. 14 overall wasn’t enough, even if he’s a better choice than Dave Wannstedt-coached Jeff Otah, who went five picks later. A team that needs three new blockers doesn’t watch another 29 offensive linemen go off the board after Williams before taking guard Chester Adams in the seventh round. Not in the deepest linemen draft ever. That’s like shopping for dinner at the supermarket and coming home with only a bottle of Ketchup.

While the Bears’ GM sat tight and took what fell to him, the Packers and Vikings tried two opposite tactics to better effect:

The Vikings traded a first-round pick and two third-rounders for NFL sack leader Jared Allen before the draft. Saturday, Minnesota swapped a fourth-rounder for a fifth to move up four spots in the second round and take Tyrell Johnson, the top-rated safety by many draftniks, one pick in front of the Bears, who also need a safety. Sunday, the Vikings used a seventh-round pick to move up 13 spots in the fifth round and take USC’s John David Booty, their potential quarterback of the future. They also signed Illinois All-American linebacker J Leman as an undrafted free agent.

Green Bay kept adding picks by trading down a few spots, yet still landed Louisville QB Brian Brohm late in the second round. Sports Illustrated called that the steal of the draft. The receiver-deep Packers reached on receiver Jordy Nelson in the second round and guard Josh Sitton in the fourth, but Brohm and six picks in the first four rounds made this a good draft.

Chicago made good value picks at receiver in Earl Bennett (No. 70 overall) and Marcus Monk (No. 248). But it was hard not to; this draft was almost deeper in receivers (35 chosen) than blockers. Limas Sweed (Steelers, No. 53 overall) and Mario Manningham (Giants, No. 95) were even better values.

The Bears couldn’t take Sweed because they drafted Tulane running back Matt Forte at No. 44. That’s because Angelo’s biggest mistake — even bigger than stopping at one offensive lineman in the first six rounds — is viewing Cedric Benson as a bigger bust than Rex Grossman.

Tom Brady’s team drafted a QB (third-rounder Kevin O’Connell). So did Ben Roethlisberger’s (fifth-rounder Dennis Dixon). And division rivals Minnesota and Green Bay. Yet the team with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton didn’t use a single one of its 12 picks on any of the 13 passers drafted when several with potential were available as late as the fifth round. Just like last year, when Angelo didn’t use any of his nine picks on a quarterback. Or the year before. Let’s sum up: three years, 28 picks, zero quarterbacks, one Rex still standing.

Yet the Bears have a first-round running back (Benson), a second-rounder (Forte) and a third-rounder (Garrett Wolfe), all picked in the last four years, and none of whom possesses breakaway speed.

Angelo’s moves — and non-moves — made the Bears better. But not a whole lot better. Angelo drafted as if he were afraid to strike out. As a result, he hit a solid single. But the Bears needed extra bases, and Angelo didn’t even try for a home run.

Matt Trowbridge can be reached at (815) 987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com.

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